'World has changed': One Nation declares victory in WA

One Nation's historic win in a Western Australian by-election marks a significant shift in Australian politics, according to party leader Barnaby Joyce. The party claimed the state seat of Secret Harbour, marking the first time they have taken a lower house seat in Western Australia. One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen secured 57% of the two-candidate preferred vote, while Labor candidate Georgia Tree received 24.4% and Liberal candidate Ryan Robertson took 17.3%.

Joyce told News24 that the world has changed, and politics has changed, noting that One Nation has attracted many former Labor voters. He emphasized that traditional Labor-held seats can no longer be taken for granted, as voters are becoming more open to alternative political options.

The victory in Secret Harbour comes after One Nation secured four lower-house seats in South Australia's recent state election and a federal seat in May. This performance has drawn attention from other parts of the country, particularly Victoria and New South Wales, where state elections are scheduled for November and March.

Local voters in Secret Harbour expressed dissatisfaction with the current political climate, citing issues such as cost-of-living pressures, housing shortages, and a lack of community amenities. Luke Pors, a One Nation supporter, stated his faith in the minor party to address these concerns. Federal Labor frontbencher Pat Conroy acknowledged the result as a challenging outcome for the state government of Roger Cook, urging the party to analyze the situation and draw necessary lessons.

Opposition home affairs spokesman Johnathon Duniam criticized the Liberal party for conceding the by-election before it even took place, warning that such behavior could damage their credibility. He urged the party to fight hard and provide a reason for voters to support them.

This result is the first lower-house seat One Nation has ever secured outside of Queensland, following their success in South Australia's March state election and their first federal seat in May. The anti-immigration party has shown its growing influence in Australian politics, with implications for the national parliament and future elections.